tripods with spiked feet

I am going to be placing an order for either the Manfrotto 055xb or 055xwnb (wilderness model). The only physical difference is that the wilderness model comes with spiked feet. Is it worth the approximate $30 higher price to have the spiked feet? How often do you use the spiked feet? Thanks in advance for any thoughts/comments.

Wilt is an old fart who has extensive experience with many brands and many formats of cameras, and extensive lighting knowledge of both studio lighting and speedlights

34,267 postsJoined Aug 2005SF Bay area, CA

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If you ever set up on rocky terrain or even grassy ones, spikes are great. On rocks, your rubber feet won't be chewed up and you have a firmer set with spike on stone. On dirt and grass, you have no sliding. I added spikes to my Bogen 3021 (Manfrotto) which I sold when I bought my Gitzo and added spikes, and have them on my hugemongous Bogen 3036 which I use for large format monorail usage in the field.

Wilt wrote in post #8452421If you ever set up on rocky terrain or even grassy ones, spikes are great. On rocks, your rubber feet won't be chewed up and you have a firmer set with spike on stone. On dirt and grass, you have no sliding. I added spikes to my Bogen 3021 (Manfrotto) which I sold when I bought my Gitzo and added spikes, and have them on my hugemongous Bogen 3036 which I use for large format monorail usage in the field.

I found the opposite on rocky terrain. I found the spikes to slide on rock and not provide a secure grip. The rubber for me is much better in this condition. When on dirt / sand / grass etc..., the spikes are better. For snow, get the snow shoes as they don't sink as far into the snow, yet still provide a very study base.

In the good old days when I used a cheap tripod, it had rubber feet that screwed up to expose spikes. Nothing extra to buy, nothing could fall off, perfect. It even came with it's own QR head. In fact the only reason I switched was because it was held together with plastic tape come the end.

Now I use a heavier and more expensive tripod, I get nothing. Why should I have to buy different feet, where do I keep them for the 99% of the time I don't need them, yet still put my hand on them at a moments notice? I know, make them come like my old ones! Come on Manfrotto, Gitzo, Giotto and others, get your act together.

Lowner wrote in post #8458207In the good old days when I used a cheap tripod, it had rubber feet that screwed up to expose spikes. Nothing extra to buy, nothing could fall off, perfect. It even came with it's own QR head. In fact the only reason I switched was because it was held together with plastic tape come the end.

Now I use a heavier and more expensive tripod, I get nothing. Why should I have to buy different feet, where do I keep them for the 99% of the time I don't need them, yet still put my hand on them at a moments notice? I know, make them come like my old ones! Come on Manfrotto, Gitzo, Giotto and others, get your act together.

There is benefit to the simple rubber caps provided by Manfrotto (and I presume others, but I don't know what they provide) as "feet" for their tripods. They are less expensive than the convertible "feet", lowering the initial price of the tripod. Most photographers probably get perfectly adequate performance with the factory "feet" and wouldn't benefit by having the more expensive convertible versions.

That said, I added the convertible "feet" on my 3021BPro a long time ago.

Wilt is an old fart who has extensive experience with many brands and many formats of cameras, and extensive lighting knowledge of both studio lighting and speedlights

34,267 postsJoined Aug 2005SF Bay area, CA

MORE INFO

The Gitzo feet replace the standard feet, and come with rubber tips that pressure fit the ends of the spikes.

The Bogen feet that I have on my 3036 (and which I added to my Bogen 3021) was as you described, Lowner. I prefer that convertible design to what Gitzo does which leaves extra bits to loose in the field, but then Manfrotto has a far better leg spread control than Gitzo, too. And a much better locking of the head on the platform.

Lowner wrote in post #8458207In the good old days when I used a cheap tripod, it had rubber feet that screwed up to expose spikes. Nothing extra to buy, nothing could fall off, perfect. It even came with it's own QR head. In fact the only reason I switched was because it was held together with plastic tape come the end.

Now I use a heavier and more expensive tripod, I get nothing. Why should I have to buy different feet, where do I keep them for the 99% of the time I don't need them, yet still put my hand on them at a moments notice? I know, make them come like my old ones! Come on Manfrotto, Gitzo, Giotto and others, get your act together.

My Giottos MT8180 has spiked feet under the rubber feet. All I have to do is pull the rubber part off and I have spikes.

That's certainly better than the rubber tube ends that is all Manfrotto fitted to my 055PROB, but still leaves you with spare "bits" just waiting to get lost. I'd much prefer to have my old "el cheapo" tripod feet and if I still had it would certainly consider home surgery to make that happen.

JWright wrote in post #8462743My Giottos MT8180 has spiked feet under the rubber feet. All I have to do is pull the rubber part off and I have spikes.

Giottos also has some neat acessory feet available:

Snow shoe with spike and removable skirt. This is also great for use in the sand. It will prevent the feet from digging down into the sand and will keep the legs cleaner.

Multifunction shoe for snow, sand and tile. This is especially good for slippery surfaces when youhave a heavy camera/lens load on the tripod. I have used feet like this on heavy duty wooden cinematography tripods. I would expect that the Snow shoe with spike would be better for sand and snow.

Lowner wrote in post #8458207In the good old days when I used a cheap tripod, it had rubber feet that screwed up to expose spikes. Nothing extra to buy, nothing could fall off, perfect. It even came with it's own QR head. In fact the only reason I switched was because it was held together with plastic tape come the end.

Now I use a heavier and more expensive tripod, I get nothing. Why should I have to buy different feet, where do I keep them for the 99% of the time I don't need them, yet still put my hand on them at a moments notice? I know, make them come like my old ones! Come on Manfrotto, Gitzo, Giotto and others, get your act together.

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